Law firm Addleshaw Goddard has a dedicated policy in place to offer its employees fertility and pregnancy support.
It has 2,915 employees across its global offices, including the UK, Europe, Middle East and Asia. Some 2,401 employees are based in the UK.
In 2023, the firm updated its in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) policy to create a more extensive and generous fertility benefit. This gives staff up to four days of paid leave per treatment cycle for medical appointments in both the investigation and treatment stage. Partners of those going through treatment, meanwhile, are entitled to take up to two days of paid leave per treatment cycle.
Mary Peterson, head of responsible business and learning at Addleshaw Goddard, explains that the firm offers a range of employee benefits to support fertility and pregnancy. “Specifically with regards to fertility, we offer access to wellbeing coaches who have lived experience of fertility issues and can offer free, confidential support to employees going through their fertility journey,” she says. ”We also offer internal fertility buddies, who are employees with lived experience, who can lend a compassionate ear to those experiencing the emotional rollercoaster of fertility treatment.”
The firm is aware that infertility is a highly sensitive and emotive topic and that some individuals will see it as a private issue. However, if employees do wish to share if this is something they are facing, then it encourages those conversations and offers support. This is through events that focus on different aspects of infertility, including the male and LGBTQ+ perspective, to raise awareness and to educate, as well as bespoke training for line managers.
“All of this information can be accessed on our parental hub, a part of our intranet where employees can find information on our family policies and the support available to them,” says Peterson. ”We have also been supported in our efforts by the organisation Fertility Matters at Work, who recently awarded us fertility-friendly employer accreditation.”
